How much to feed a Shiba Inu: daily ration and food tolerance
An adult, neutered Shiba Inu weighing 9 kg needs about 580 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 160 g of dry food or 580 g of wet food. A petite 7 kg female comes to about 480 kcal (135 g), an active 11 kg male to about 845 kcal (235 g). With a Shiba, it pays to look at the skin as well as the amount: the breed is considered prone to atopic dermatitis.
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Adult weight
- Male:
- avg. approx. 10.5 kg (39.5 cm)
- Female:
- avg. approx. 7.5 kg (36.5 cm)
Average weight according to the American Kennel Club (23 and 17 lb respectively), height at the withers according to FCI Standard No. 257 (± 1.5 cm).
Activity type
Primitive Japanese hunting and companion dog – according to the FCI, loyal, sharp-witted and very alert.
Breed watch points
Skin, itching, elimination diet
Calculate how much to feed your Shiba Inu
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
160 g
Dry food per day
≈ 580 kcal · 2 meals of 80 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 145–180 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 80 g
- Energy
- 580 kcal (525–640)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 9 kg^0.75 ≈ 364 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 580 kcal per day.
580 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 160 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Shiba Inu feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 kg | |||
| Calm | 420 | 115 | 420 |
| Normal | 480 | 135 | 480 |
| Active | 600 | 165 | 600 |
| 9 kg | |||
| Calm | 510 | 140 | 510 |
| Normal | 580 | 160 | 580 |
| Active | 725 | 200 | 725 |
| 11 kg | |||
| Calm | 590 | 165 | 590 |
| Normal | 675 | 190 | 675 |
| Active | 845 | 235 | 845 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 9 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 9 kg^0.75 ≈ 364 kcal × factor 1.6 = 580 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 160 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Itching: environment or food?
In research, the Shiba Inu is listed as a breed predisposed to canine atopic dermatitis – a chronic, recurring skin inflammation linked mainly to environmental allergens. A study in the journal Microbiome (2023) therefore specifically examined Shibas with and without atopic dermatitis.
Food is not the main cause, but it can play a part: a food allergy often looks exactly the same on the skin. The only way to find out is a strict elimination diet. A review of the available studies in BMC Veterinary Research (2015) found that more than 80 per cent of food-allergic dogs were free of symptoms after five weeks and more than 90 per cent after eight weeks. An elimination diet should therefore last at least eight weeks.
- Plan the elimination diet with your vet – using a protein source that is new to your dog or a hydrolysed food.
- During these eight weeks, no treats, chews or table scraps outside the diet.
- You calculate the amount as usual: daily requirement divided by the kcal per 100 g of the diet food.
Female and male: noticeably different rations
In Shibas, females and males differ markedly: the American Kennel Club gives an average of about 7.5 kg for females and 10.5 kg for males. With normal exercise, that is 510 kcal versus 655 kcal a day – a difference of 145 kcal or 40 g of dry food.
If your Shiba leaves food in the bowl, a fixed routine usually helps more than constantly trying new varieties: offer the portion for 15 to 20 minutes, clear away the rest and serve the next meal at the usual time. Frequent changes also make a later elimination diet harder, because hardly any protein source will still be new.
Shiba puppies: change food calmly
Shibas are small to medium-sized and usually fully grown at around one year. Puppies get four meals until about three months, then three.
If a young Shiba shows itching early on, don't switch from one food to the next on your own. Discuss with your vet whether and when an elimination diet makes sense.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Shiba Inu
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Shiba Inu – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Shiba Inu
How much should a Shiba Inu eat per day?
A neutered Shiba Inu weighing 9 kg with normal exercise needs about 580 kcal a day – roughly 160 g of dry food at 360 kcal per 100 g or 580 g of wet food. Females are usually lighter and need less.
How much does a Shiba Inu weigh?
The American Kennel Club gives an average of about 10.5 kg for males and 7.5 kg for females. The FCI standard specifies the height at the withers: 39.5 cm for males and 36.5 cm for females, each plus or minus 1.5 cm.
What food makes sense for a Shiba with itching?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Shibas are prone to atopic dermatitis, which is linked mainly to environmental allergens. Whether food is also involved can only be clarified by a vet-supervised elimination diet using a new protein source or a hydrolysed food.
How long does an elimination diet last in dogs?
At least eight weeks. According to a review of the existing studies, more than 80 per cent of dogs with a food allergy were free of symptoms after five weeks and more than 90 per cent after eight weeks.
My Shiba is a poor eater – should I offer more varieties?
Better not. A fixed routine usually helps more: offer the portion for 15 to 20 minutes, then clear it away. Lots of changes make a later elimination diet more difficult. If your Shiba hasn't eaten for more than a day or is losing weight, have it examined.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 257: Shiba – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Official Standard of the Shiba Inu – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- A comprehensive analysis of gut and skin microbiota in canine atopic dermatitis in Shiba Inu dogs (Thomsen et al., 2023) – Microbiome
- Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (1): duration of elimination diets (Olivry et al., 2015) – BMC Veterinary Research
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
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